PHILADELPHIA – The Marlins reinstated right-hander Edward Cabrera and outfielder Griffin Conine from the injured list while optioning righty Adam Mazur and outfielder Joey Wiemer as corresponding roster moves on Monday afternoon.
Since Conine was on the 60-day IL, the Marlins made space on the 40-man roster by returning outfielder Derek Hill from rehab, reinstating him from the 10-day IL and designating him for assignment.
Cabrera, who had been sidelined since Aug. 31 with a right elbow sprain, will start the Marlins’ series opener against the National League East champion Phillies on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
In the midst of a breakout campaign, Cabrera experienced tightness during his Aug. 30 start against the Mets, exiting after four innings. He would undergo testing and receive multiple opinions before resuming throwing on Sept. 10 and tossing three innings (about 50 pitches) in a simulated game Wednesday.
Cabrera’s return to the rotation for the season’s final six games made Mazur the odd man out, with righties Sandy Alcantara (Friday), Janson Junk (Thursday) and Eury Pérez (likely Saturday) as well as lefty Ryan Weathers (Wednesday) lined up to start this week. After being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville in late August, Mazur posted a 4.44 ERA in five starts.
Conine, who was Miami’s Opening Day right fielder and had a 118 OPS+ at the time of his injury, underwent what was believed to be season-ending left shoulder surgery on April 30. But he was ahead of schedule in his rehab and began an assignment on Sept. 7. In nine games, Conine slashed .292/.514/.583 with one double, two homers, nine RBIs, 11 walks and nine strikeouts for the Jumbo Shrimp.
With Conine back, the Marlins elected to send down right-handed-hitting Wiemer (.755 OPS in 23 games). Miami’s roster now has lefty corner-outfield bats in Conine and Troy Johnston as well as righties Dane Myers and Heriberto Hernández.
Despite being the club’s Opening Day center fielder, Hill landed on the IL four times during the season. He had been out since Sept. 2 with a right hamstring strain, beginning his rehab assignment on Saturday with Triple-A Jacksonville.